Chapter Text
Burying her head underneath her pillow as she tried to block out the noise of people chatting, Sophia was hoping that she could return to the sweet embrace of sleep, as she genuinely had no intention of getting out of bed until late into the afternoon. This was quite normal, as she typically used this to avoid interacting with others before she was ready.
Tossing and turning as she began to grow restless, Sophia was quick to realise that she wasn’t going to get what she wanted. It frustrated her to no end, as she thought she had made it perfectly clear by now that she purposefully stayed up all night, that she rested during the day.
Mom just had to invite one of her friends over, didn’t she? It’s like she’s trying to get on my nerves. Next thing I know, she’ll be breathing down my neck and asking me if I’ve met anyone at university… Ugh. Staring up at her white ceiling, the dishevelled brunette could only feel that this was intentional.
She’d received unwarranted attention due to her birthday last week, and just when she was starting to believe that everything was returning back to normal, this happened. It was irritating, as she never asked for this, to be bothered with any and all minor inconveniences, and she was fed up.
Tossing her blankets off of her, Sophia rose to her feet, grabbed a black hoodie and put it on, not wanting to show off her thin physique to whoever her mother was entertaining. Stomping against the wooden floorboards, she hoped to make her dissatisfaction loud and clear, as she had reached her wit’s end.
Storming down the hallway towards the source of the noise, Sophia could hear familiar voices, ones that she recognised in an instant. Her mood softened ever so slightly, as it was now clear that her mother hadn’t invited one of her friends over for a cup of tea. It was the opposite rather - this was a surprise visit.
“She’s so cute, Emilia. She’s the maid you brought here for New Year’s, right?” A mature, almost excited voice bounced off of the walls, her delight making it clear that she was in a terrific mood. The woman seemed as if she was fawning over someone, and didn’t care about controlling her volume.
Peeking her head into the dining room, being cautious not to draw attention to herself, Sophia confirmed just who these guests were. She should have expected as much, as she knew her sister’s voice all too well, but for her to bring her youngest housemaid with her was somewhat shocking to say the least.
Millie brought Noel here..? Why? Wait, don’t tell me. Were they going on a date together? That’s probably it. They must be sneaking around behind Vicky’s back, but they’re too embarrassed to actually do anything. So I guess this is all an act to enable Vicky’s cuckolding fetish, huh? That’s kind of lame.
I mean, I know Millie has done it with Noel on several occasions, so I don’t know why she’s so apprehensive to do it again. Is she only going along with Vicky’s request to please her? If so, that’s cruel. But maybe I’m just mistaken? Perhaps this is just a way for Millie to kill some time before Noel ravages her?
Uncertain about what to make of her sister’s sudden appearance, Sophia was now starting to reconsider giving her mother a piece of her mind. It’d be exhausting to have to endure being dragged into a conversation with all of them, even if she could just simply return to her room and act cold to everyone.
“This is Noel, Mom. She’s been working for Vicky and I for a while now. She’s a bit young, but she’s really adorable,” Emilia properly introduced her maid to her mother, and she was even unashamed to voice her genuine opinion about the girl. She really did find her endearing, as her clumsiness was quite cute.
Dressed in a brown, knitted sweater made of wool, a grey, checkered dress that fell all the way down to her shins, and a brown beanie, Noel blushed as she wasn’t really expecting to have two gorgeous women praising her like this. She lowered her head a little, unable to bring herself to look either of them in the eye.
“Aww, she’s blushing! No need to be shy, Noel. I won’t bite,” Charlotte Thompson gushed over the young girl’s flustered demeanour, as she never really got to witness her own daughters behave like this very often. Emilia at least expressed herself, but Sophia simply kept her emotions under lock and key, rarely showing anything other than a bored stare.
Despite being a mother of two, Charlotte still retained some of her youth, as there were no wrinkles to be seen, nor did she have any crow’s feet or pores. She’d given birth to her eldest daughter not long after graduating from high school, but it was difficult to tell, as she often tried to look at least ten years younger than she was.
It was clear from just a glance who Emilia and Sophia inherited their looks from. Healthy, auburn hair that was styled into a French bob cut, long lashes that only drew attention to her deep amber eyes, plump lips that were coated with lipstick, and a simple sense in fashion that made her stand out.
But just like her daughters, Charlotte was truly blessed with a well endowed chest, the size alone being an object of envy. It was impossible to tell through her clothes, but her breasts had yet to start sagging, and while the weight of them was taxing, there was no mistaking that she was built like a pornstar.
Sophia, noticing that Noel was sneaking glances at her Mom, almost as if she was checking her out, felt a tinge of jealousy. Not wanting the young girl to become infatuated with that cow, she decided now was as good of a time as any to make her presence known, even if she could so easily return to her room and pretend to be asleep.
Silently walking into the room, her feet barely making a sound as they pressed against the floorboards, Sophia took a seat at the dining table, joining everyone else. Her hair was a complete and utter mess, making her look like she’d woken up on the wrong side of the bed, but she didn’t care.
“Morning Soph. We didn’t wake you, did we?” Emilia greeted her sister, feeling somewhat guilty for having likely disrupted her sleep. She knew of her circumstances, that her sleeping pattern was out of whack so she could avoid interacting with her family, and while she sympathised with her, she couldn’t exactly act as if it was healthy.
Noel’s face lit up as she sat up straight in her chair, her viridian eyes sparkling with hope as she stared across at her eccentric friend. She was hoping that she would drag her away from this, as she was in the middle of two women who seemed to want to tease her until she turned red.
“Do you have to ask? If you knew I was asleep, then why did you come visit?” Sophia was snarky as she gave her older sister some attitude, voicing her displeasure about having company so early in the morning. If it was closer to noon, then she wouldn’t care as much, but there was still a couple of hours before lunch, meaning her foul mood felt justified.
Furrowing her brows as she wasn’t impressed with her daughter’s tone, Charlotte felt it was her obligation as a parent to ensure that this kind of behaviour wasn’t encouraged. “Don’t be rude to your sister, Sophia. She came here to see you, and she even brought a cute little friend too.”
Rolling her sole visible eye, Sophia scoffed as she glared disapprovingly at her mother. She knew better than to talk about, as it would only invite more incessant nagging for days to come, but the thought was tempting. Slinking back in her chair, she mentally checked out of the conversation, no longer wanting to participate.
“It’s fine, Mom. No need to be so harsh, okay? It’s not like Soph did anything wrong,” Emilia was cautious, as she knew very well that she was walking on flames here, that she could get burned if she wasn’t careful. She wasn’t about to tolerate seeing her own sister be disparaged like this, but it’s not as if she could go off at her mother.
It was a little known secret that Charlotte pampered Emilia, while neglecting Sophia. Perhaps it was due to the fact that she couldn’t communicate with her youngest daughter, that they lived in two separate worlds, but she acted as if she required high maintenance, that you couldn’t leave her alone for too long.
It’s not as if Sophia had done anything to warrant this kind of treatment. Growing up, she was alarmingly quiet, and showed no interest in hanging around others her age. She could typically be found by her lonesome, or hiding behind her sister’s back, as she seemed rather attached to her.
That wasn’t to say that Charlotte didn’t love her antisocial and peculiar daughter. No, she tried countless times in the past to understand her, to get an idea as to how she operated and what her interests were, but there was simply no connection between them, almost as if they were incompatible by nature.
“...So where’s Victoria? I would’ve thought you would be stuck to her, Emilia?” Charlotte awkwardly changed the topic, bringing the whereabouts of her daughter’s wife into question. She quite liked the Buckfield’s, and she wholeheartedly approved of their marriage without so much as a second thought.
Where is Vicky anyway..? It’s a Saturday, so she can’t be working. Maybe she’s sick? No, Millie would never leave her side if that were the case. I guess Millie and Noel must really be pretending to go out on a date to get Vicky all fired up, huh? Maybe I should send her a message later.
As much as she hated to agree with her mother, Sophia did find the blonde’s absence to be a cause for concern. Of course, she tried to rationalise why she wasn’t here, coming up with several plausible reasons, but it’s not like she was going to reach the truth on her own. And luckily, she was going to get an answer.
“Oh, Vicky’s asleep in bed. She’s been under a lot of stress lately, and I kind of forced her to take a break from work. And then Noel here asked me if I could take her to see Soph,” Emilia looked a little disheartened as she explained herself, almost as if she was saddened to have left her wife alone for a while.
Sophia could tell that her sister was lying, as there was no reality in which Victoria would still be asleep at this time of day. The biggest giveaway was that one of Emilia’s eyes twitched ever so slightly, something that could only be perceived if you were to pay close attention to her. Of course, given their relationship as siblings, it was pretty simple to recognise this.
“Poor thing. Send her my best regards, will you? Is Victoria doing alright with her job? You two aren’t having any issues with money, are you?” Charlotte sympathised with her daughter, as it must be tough to have a partner who was under a lot of pressure. She tried not to be too invasive with her questions, as she did her best to keep her distance and not be nosy.
Emilia brought out her phone, swiping her screen a few times before turning it around. She was showing her mother what appeared to be a bank account, while explaining, “Relax Mom, I’m doing some work on the side in case things go south. Not that it will, but it never hurts to be safe, you know? Vicky and I will be just fine. Besides, I’m sure her parents would help out if things got rough.”
Both Noel and Sophia were confused by this, as neither of them knew that the flirtatious brunette had a job of any sorts. They exchanged a brief, puzzled look with one another, trying to figure out what was going on, but after shrugging their shoulders and shaking their heads, it was clear that they knew nothing.
Millie has a job? Since when? I didn’t know about this, and by the looks of it, neither does Noel. Is this new? No, judging by Millie’s bank account and Mom’s expression, it seems like this has been going on for a while now. So what is she doing? I thought she was a housewife who had way too much free time.
“Well, if you insist, I’ll try not to worry too much. Now if only your sister would find the motivation to get a job,” Charlotte decided to stop concerning herself so much over her daughter’s marriage and lifestyle. Instead, she chose to express her displeasure with how problematic her youngest kid is.
Rising to her feet and slamming the dining table, Sophia suppressed the urge to yet out a yelp as she had been a bit too rough. Glaring disapprovingly at her mother, she scoffed and spun on her heels, stomping back to her bedroom so she wouldn’t have to endure any more insults for the rest of the day.
Just say you hate me, Mom. Seriously, you don’t even try to hide it. Just because I don’t talk to you, don’t ask for your help, and ignore you, doesn’t mean you can treat me like a freak. Whatever. I won’t let her ruin the rest of my day. I’ll just lock my door and go back to bed. I’ll just skip dinner again.
Right as Sophia was about to slam her door shut with all of her might, in order to make her frustrations known to all, a small hand reached out to stop her. It was humiliating to have someone actually come and take pity on her like this, but there was little point in taking her foul mood out on Noel.
“S-Sorry for chasing after you, Sophie. I just couldn’t leave you alone after seeing you lose your temper,” Noel apologised as she explained herself, voicing her concern as she genuinely was worried for the eccentric girl. That, and she wanted to get away from that awkward atmosphere, as it was suffocating to sit there in silence.
Sighing as if she just didn’t care anymore, Sophia’s shoulders slumped down as she crept towards her bed, falling face first onto it as she just wanted to go back to sleep, to forget about all of this. Hearing her bedroom door softly close shut, she knew that she was expected to hold a conversation.
But as moments turned to minutes, there were no questions of any kind being thrown her way. She could hear the sound of footsteps quietly pacing around her room, coming to a halt, only for her chair to squeak ever so slightly a moment later. Without even having to look up, she had a good idea as to what was happening around her.
What does she want? I’m not about to bawl my eyes out, nor do I have any intention of venting my emotions. I suppose Millie did say that Noel wanted to speak with me, but she could have just messaged me. Or is this something she wanted to say in person? Ugh… Why do I get the feeling it’s going to be trivial?
Noticing the dishevelled brunette’s head turn to look in her direction, Noel just had to assume that underneath all of that messy hair was a saddened expression of some kind. Not that she could actually see anything of the sort. Surveying the neat and tidy room that looked just how she remembered, she decided to at least try and make small talk.
“Your room is always so clean, Sophie. Do you clean regularly?” Noel was genuinely impressed, as no matter how many times she tried to tidy up her house when she returned home to visit her family, there was always a mess after she turned to look away. She considered herself quite diligent about this sort of thing, considering it was part of her job.
Staring at the white-haired maid through her locks of hair that obscured her vision, Sophia groaned as she realised that there was no easy way out of this, that her staying silent wouldn’t solve anything. She didn’t hide her disinterest as she explained, “I clean up after myself whenever I make a mess.”
There was an awkward pause as Noel tried to rack her brain and think of a way to continue this conversation, but nothing came to mind no matter how hard she tried. It was disappointing, as she genuinely wanted to learn more about her studious friend, as she felt like she didn’t know much even after spending a week together.
Remembering back to a week ago, and how much she enjoyed the birthday party, Noel decided to test the water and see if changing the topic would do her any good. “I had fun last week, Sophie. It was really nice of you to take a picture with me. Oh, and I hope you liked your present.”
“Yeah…” Sophia was in a rut, unable to bring herself to even think positively about her own birthday. Her life was full of so many highs and lows, and simply having to put up with her mother never failed to leave her in a bad mood. Not that she could exactly move out, as she didn’t have a job, nor any friends who would allow her to crash on their couch.
Not that Sophia had any intention of leaving home anytime soon. Her bedroom was her comfort zone, and she felt safe here, even if the second she stepped outside, she knew that danger could be waiting around every corner. The thought of staying with her sister did cross her mind from time to time, but she didn’t want to be seen as a nuisance.
“I-I thought you looked cute with your hair tied up. And that outfit of yours really suited you. U-Um… Sorry, I’m kind of forcing it, aren’t I?” Noel tried and tried to keep the one-sided conversation going, only to find that she was running out of ideas. She could just ask the question that was on her mind, but she felt it would be too imposing at this moment.
Sitting up straight, Sophia brushed her hair back into place with her fingers, only needing to show half of her face in order to get a good look at the sweet maid. Perhaps she pitied her, or maybe she related to her, but she couldn’t bring herself to kick her out so she could be left in solitude.
“Thanks. You shouldn’t expect me to dress up like that anytime soon,” as grateful as she was that someone liked her choice in fashion, Sophia just didn’t feel motivated to put in the effort to make herself look good. She wasn’t like her sister, who was naturally beautiful, nor was she as charismatic as her.
With a disappointed pout on her face, Noel knew that it wasn’t her place to ask for such a thing. She was lucky enough to get a picture of the brunette looking pretty, and that was enough for now. Although the more she looked at her, the more she started to wonder why she kept her fringe so unnecessarily long.
“Um… Why do you hide your face, Sophie?” Unable to recall if she’s ever seen both of those amber eyes, Noel decided to just ask the question that was on her mind, failing to realise how inappropriate and sudden it was. She’d never really seen anyone who covered their face with their hair like this, outside of fiction anyway.
Startled as she hadn’t anticipated this, Sophia was stumped on how to respond. She could be honest and tell the truth, or she could evade the question and spout lies. With a mischievous smirk, she replied, “Who knows? Maybe I’m hiding a scar? Or perhaps my skin is burned?”
“D-Don’t joke about that, Sophie!” Noel furiously rose to her feet, unamused with how the older girl was making light of such serious things. Obviously she didn’t know if she was trying to cover up something, but a part of her wanted to believe that there was nothing wrong, as it would be disheartening to learn of that.
Flipping her long bangs that covered up half of her face, Sophia tried to brush them behind her ear, only for most of them to fall right back into place. She felt a little exposed to show off her faint skin, her dark circles under her eyes, and how there were no nasty scars that she was hiding.
“Relax. As you can see, there’s nothing wrong with me. I just feel comfortable with my hair like this, okay? There’s no deeper meaning to it. Well, aside from the fact I don’t like getting my haircut,” Sophia reassured the off-duty maid that there was no need to get so worked up, that she was perfectly fine.
What’s the big deal? For all she knew, I was hiding a scar or something. It’s not like I’m going out of my way to hurt myself or anything. I may feel awful, but I’m not that far gone. Maybe Noel just wanted to know what I look like without my hair covering my face? Well, it’s not like I’m hiding anything. I’m not as pretty as Millie after all.
Trying to understand why the brunette didn’t enjoy getting her haircut, Noel could only presume that she didn’t like having to deal with a hairdresser trying to force a conversation. Not that she really knew what it was like, as her mother always did it for her. Although as of late, she had been trimming her bangs herself.
Deciding not to lecture the depressed university student, Noel felt it would be much better if she tried to cheer her up, to reassure her that she should take pride in how she looked. “I think you could look just as good as Em if you put in a little effort, Sophie. You both look similar, but you have this air of mystery to you, while Em is dazzling.”
“Uh huh. And just who would I be trying to impress, Noel? In case you aren’t aware, I don’t exactly have any friends. Millie will just think I’m trying to copy her, and Mom would just lecture me about how I should’ve taken better care of myself ages ago,” Sophia wasn’t convinced, going so far as to explain how no one would really care if she tidied her appearance up a little.
A little hurt that she wasn’t considered a friend, Noel tried to tell herself that it was her own misunderstanding, as they had never directly acknowledged what their bond was. Breathing in as she composed herself, she was quite blunt as she replied, “Victoria would be happy to see you dressed up again, and so would I. Is that not obvious, Sophie?”
Vicky would definitely smile if she saw me with my hair cut. She’s always been so nice to me, but even then, she’d probably just treat me like I’m a kid again. She’d want to reminisce about our childhood, even if I wasn’t always around. Maybe if Vicky asked, I’d consider it, but that’s it. Noel doesn’t understand me at all.
Where does she get off thinking she knows a thing about me? We did spend a week together, and I did sort of give her special treatment, but there’s nothing else to it. Sure, she gave me flowers and a ribbon for my birthday, but that doesn’t magically mean I’ll be all friendly with her. Ugh. I don’t know how I should feel about her.
Losing interest in this topic, as her own appearance was considerably low on her list of interests, Sophia groaned as she was starting to crave peace and quiet once more. Wanting to be alone, she was quite abrupt as she asked, “So why are you here, Noel? Surely you and Millie didn’t come all the way here just to annoy me?”
“Annoy you? Don’t be silly. I wanted to speak with you, Sophie, while Em needed to talk to her mother. You don’t have to be so cautious with me, you know? I thought we were friends?” Noel explained herself as subtly as she could, as it wasn’t her place to go into detail about how Emilia was here to tell her Mom to not expect grandchildren anytime soon.
Cautious? Are you kidding me? Do you not remember how you took my virginity?! You fucked me for hours on end without relenting, and now you have the nerve to act as if you did nothing wrong?! I’m at fault too for provoking you, but you can’t just pretend as if all is well and good after we screwed for a whole week, Noel.
Trying her best not to lose her temper, Sophia maintained her stoic expression, merely staring at the young maid. Not wanting to succumb to her emotions, as they were best kept bottled up, she took a deep breath to calm herself. “If you wanted to talk to me, you could have just sent a message or called, you know? Or you could’ve asked last week on my birthday.”
“I didn’t want to pressure you on your special day, Sophie. And I feel like this is something that needs to be said in person. I know it’s a bit selfish of me, but I wanted to ask you a favour,” Noel shook her head, blushing ever so slightly as she reasoned with the lonely girl. Her logic wasn’t without flaw, but she didn’t feel comfortable talking over the phone about these sorts of things.
Sitting there quietly on the edge of her bed, Sophia was trying to come up with possible reasons for this unnecessary conversation to take place. Did the white-haired girl need assistance with the cuckolding thing? Or maybe she wanted help with technology? What if she was going to ask to spend more time together?
There were so many possibilities, and yet none of them stood out from the rest.
“I know you’re really smart, Sophie. Em and Victoria always talk about how much of a genius you are, and well… I wanted to ask a huge favour. Would you be willing to tutor me?” Noel tried to politely flatter the eccentric university student, hoping that it would stroke her ego enough for her to consider accepting such a selfish request.
Puzzled and startled as this was something that she hadn’t anticipated, Sophia was about to state the facts, that she was no genius, but she decided against it, knowing that it’d be a waste of effort. Instead, she chose to inquire for some more info, “Why are you asking me? Do you want to go back to school or something?”
“Well, yes and no. It’d be nice, but I’m not in a position where I can afford to go to school. I need to help my Mom with the bills, and I don’t think it’d be right of me to make things harder for my family. That, and I honestly think I won’t fit in at school,” Noel blushed as she scratched her cheek, admitting as to why she wasn’t going to continue her education through traditional means.
And you think I’m the best person for the job? That I’m some kind of genius? Please, if I was, then I wouldn’t feel trapped, like I don’t belong anywhere.
Deciding against judging the poor girl’s choice in going straight to her for help, Sophia vaguely recalled bits and pieces she’s heard about her family situation. Something about one of her parents passing away some years ago, causing her mother to work herself to the bone in order to provide for four children.
“Do you really think I’ll just drop everything I’m doing and say yes, Noel? What’s in it for me?” Sophia felt as if she had no reason to accept this offer, as it was purely one sided as far as she could tell. Sure, having company would be nice, but it would be taxing, as she couldn’t cope with socialising too much.
Shaking her head, Noel knew that she had to at least do something to make up for such a selfish request, to try and make it seem fair. She couldn’t exactly rely upon the goodness in this peculiar brunette’s heart, as she was emotionally unstable and would likely just lose all interest after a short while.
The silence was somewhat soothing to Sophia, as it gave her the peace of mind to calm down and think rationally. She only got like this whenever she had to tolerate her insufferable mother, as that cow of a woman simply drew out the worst in her. She had to avoid meals just to not speak with her some days.
Almost as if her body had a mind of its own, Sophia’s stomach began to growl, reminding her that she hadn’t eaten in two days now. It was utterly embarrassing, and she lowered her head in shame, her cheeks turning bright pink as she turned to look away. She knew that she was about to be teased, as everyone seemed to love poking fun at her for her awful diet.
“I know it’s not much, but how about I cook for you whenever you tutor me, Sophie?” Doing her best to go about this as smoothly as possible, Noel offered to make meals for the older girl, as she had seen in some movies that food was a quick and easy way to repay someone. Of course, she knew that it wouldn’t necessarily work, but it was worth a shot.
Placing a hand over her aching stomach, Sophia understood that this was probably the best form of compensation considering her circumstances. She could help the maid with her studies, and not have to endure another awkward meal with her family afterwards. It was mutually beneficial, something she didn’t expect.
She would have accepted the offer to be a tutor regardless of whether or not there was something for her to gain from all of this. Sophia simply wanted to bargain, to try and see how flustered she could make that sweetheart. Not everything was going to plan, but she could improvise, as she quietly replied with a quick, “Fine.”
Noel’s face lit up as she hadn’t expected it to be this simple. She was about to propose that she cooked and cleaned for this reclusive girl, to essentially be her personal maid whenever they were together. She wasn’t accustomed to dealing with someone so difficult to understand, as they were practically from two different worlds.
“T-Thanks, Sophie! I haven’t really thought about it too much, but I was thinking that maybe I could come visit every weekend? Or maybe you could come to sleepover at the manor when you feel like it, and you can tutor me then?” Noel was pumped up and excited, as things were going smoothly for a change.
She definitely included that last part for my sake. Noel must have realised that if she comes to visit me at home, that Mom will be breathing down our necks and spying on the two of us. As nice as it is that she’s giving me a reason to visit Vicky, I can’t help but feel like I’m just going to be an inconvenience to her and Millie.
Sophia was lost in her own thoughts, attempting to predict whether or not Victoria would welcome her company at the most inconvenient of times. There was no reason for her sister in-law to kick her out, but she also had no incentive to let her stay either. It was puzzling, as she couldn’t exactly conclude whether things would work themself out or not.
But just as she was about to reach a decision, her stomach decided to make itself known once more.
Concerned about how loud and frequent the brunette’s tummy was growling, Noel couldn’t help but to wonder if she’s been taking proper care of herself this past week. Worried, she felt the need to ask, “When was the last time you ate, Sophie? You have been looking after yourself, haven’t you?”
“...Thursday,” Sophia could have so easily lied to get herself out of this situation, but she couldn’t bring herself to tell a lie to someone with such pure intentions. It was true that she neglected to eat just so she could avoid her family, and while she knew it was healthy, it was the easiest way for her to feel comfortable at home.
Appalled to hear this, Noel tried not to belittle the older girl, to scold her for being so negligent. It would only make her feel worse about herself, and she didn’t want that weighing down on her conscience. Rising to her feet, she straightened out her clothes quickly as she was ready to hurry out the door to the kitchen.
“Just sit still and I’ll go make you something, okay?” Noel flashed a reassuring smile while trying to sympathise with Sophia. She couldn’t just turn a blind eye and pretend she knew nothing about how malnourished she was, how she was starving herself just so she didn’t have to communicate with her mother.
Jolting up, Sophia staggered for a moment as she felt weak, only for her to grab the maid by her wrist, preventing her from leaving and doing something she didn’t ask for. She’d be just fine, as she was planning on going back to bed once she was by herself, and she’d just sneak into the kitchen late at night and make herself something if she was hungry.
“Stop doing things for me without asking first,” Sophia sounded tired as she made it clear that she wasn’t fond of others going out of their way to do her favours. Sure, she could forgive someone like Victoria, but anyone else’s efforts were deemed as unnecessary and unwarranted.
Reluctantly sighing as she didn’t want to just turn a blind eye and pretend that nothing was wrong with this, Noel felt it was in both of their best interests if she complied with the older girl’s wishes. It left a bad taste in her mouth, as she could never forgive herself if she were to learn if any of her siblings were starving when she was in a position to help.
“Sophie, you really need to take better care of yourself. You can’t keep staying up all night, skipping meals, and sleeping all day, okay? I’m worried about you,” Noel couldn’t hold it in any longer, as she tried to politely make it apparent that this kind of behaviour was self destructive, that she wouldn’t tolerate it.
Did I ask you to care? We aren’t even friends, Noel, but you don’t seem to get that, do you? Why can’t you just leave me alone like everyone else? Sophia had to bite her tongue from voicing these thoughts, as she would have only started an argument that would draw the attention of her mother and sister.
Sighing as she somewhat resigned herself to her fate, Sophia was ready to just brush it all off with a quick response when a devious idea popped into her head. Grinning from cheek to cheek, she playfully asked, “Are you sure you should be worrying about me, Noel? I thought you were trying to steal Millie away from Vicky?”
“D-Don’t just change the topic!” Noel was flustered as she hadn’t anticipated this, as she had been doing her best to avoid thinking about the whole cuckolding affair all day. While she was excited about it, as March would spell the beginning of it all, she knew that there was a time and a place for indulging in her own selfish wants and needs, and that wasn’t now.
Pleased that her effort to redirect the attention away from herself had succeeded, Sophia was surprisingly in the dark about what was going on in the manor, as she hadn’t really been questioning the poor girl as much as she should, nor has she been talking with her sister or Victoria about it.
“What’s the matter? Afraid you won’t be able to do it?” Sophia knew that she was being mean, that she was playing with fire, but she couldn’t help but get carried away. She quite enjoyed teasing others in her own cruel and twisted way, as it gave her insight on the inner workings of their minds.
Being provoked like this was giving Noel mixed feelings, as she was contemplating how she should act. The devil on her shoulder was whispering for her to give in to her desires, to pin this weak willed brunette to the bed and remind her just who was in control here, to make her learn her place.
“Oh, I know I can do it, Sophie. Just you wait and see. You and Em will both be mine,” narrowing her eyes as she wore a cocky grin, Noel stared at her tutor with unwavering confidence. Deep down however, she was anxious and regretting every word that escaped her lips.
Taken back by this, Sophia wasn’t sure what to make of all of it. As she began to try and analyse whether this was a joke or not, her head started to spin, her body feeling weak and lighter than normal as she stumbled forward. Resting against the smug maid, she felt faint, like she was about ready to pass out.
Overwhelmed with concern, Noel wrapped her arms around the brunette, lifting her up with some difficulty, only to note how much lighter she was than she anticipated. It was worrying, but she couldn’t just stand here and contemplate what she should do to fix the issue. No, she had to do something right this second.
Carrying Sophia in her arms, Noel placed her down atop of the bed, making sure to rest her head against a pillow and lay her on her side in case she was sick. Glancing around the room to see if there were any glasses of water, she clicked her tongue as she realised she would have to go to the kitchen to grab one.
Words were incomprehensible to Sophia as her head spun, although she had a hunch that this white-haired angel was reassuring her that everything would be just fine, that she’d be back in just a moment. She was weak, vulnerable, and she just wanted something to hug. Mustering all of her strength, she grabbed hold of the largest things in arms reach.
Soft and warm. I could fall asleep while cuddling this. When did I get a plushie that was so wooly though..? Oh well, what does it matter? I’ll worry about it later. Bringing her stuffed animal close to her chest and snuggling with it, she began to doze off into the realm of slumber, as staying conscious was simply too difficult at this point in time.
If only she knew that she was hugging a flustered and speechless Noel.